Pinot Noir

2015 is a great vintage and I was excited to get a chance to try this one.  In Burgundy terms, this is certainly a value.  It was selling for under $40.  Ruby/purple in color.  Very bright.  On the nose, sour cherries and slight cranberries.  Very nice lush texture.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, a bit one dimensional at this point.  Plenty of sour cherry fruit.  It drinks more like a new world Pinot than I expected.  Perhaps those labels mean less and less these days.  It is very enjoyable right now, but I think to justify the money, it should be laid down for at least a decade.  Certain

Ruby in color.  This looked a bit older than it was.  Blind, however, most people were guessing Burgundy.  The nose is very earthy with cherries.  On the palate, again earthy with cherries.  Slightly clipped on the finish.  Medium tannins.  This seemed like it may have been a bit shut down.  Pop and pour, it would have been helped out with some air.  It would be good to revisit this in a few years.  

Rhys makes some of the most "Burgundian" Pinot Noirs in California.  This one, however, seemed more California in style.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has dark cherries and a slight cola note I don't remember getting before.  On the palate, black cherries with a slight dark chocolate note.  Tight but quite complex.  It unwinds in the glass.  Still drinking quite youthfully.  Delicious now, but I suspect it will evolve and mature for a decade or two.  Wonderful wine with plenty of upside.  

Checking on a 2005 Burgundy.  Not ready yet.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose is nice but primary with cherries and spice.  On the palate, this has cherries, slight tannins and spice.  Pretty monolithic at this stage but it eventually opens with air.  Hold these for now.  

Ruby/purple in color.  The nose has cherries, slightly sour and sandalwood.  On the palate, sour cherries with slight root beer note.  This is a big wine and ageing pretty slowly.  There is still a ton of fruit and the alcohol is in check, so I suspect this will continue to develop.  It will be interesting to see how much complexity it gains.  Like many wines that lean far to one style, if you didn't like this young, you probably won't like it old (and visa-versa).  There is some slight heat on the finish but that settled down with some air.  

Very good showing for this.  As to whether this is at peak or not, it depends how you like your wines.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  On the nose, this is earthy with cherries,  macerated cherries and a bit of funk.  Medium bodied.  Complex and layered on the palate.  Cherries, forest floor and earth.  Good balance.  Persistent with good energy.  Nice finish.  If you like a mature Pinot Noir, this was drinking great.  

An excellent value in Oregon Pinot Noir.  Under $30, for a complex Pinot Noir that is only a step behind the single vineyard designated wines.  Ruby/purple in color.  The nose is nice with dark cherries, slight sour cherries, spice and slight char.  On the palate, dark and sour cherries predominate now.  These wines tend to be fruit forward for Oregon, but they cellar better than one might think.  With age, they get an earthy funk that is nice.  Good finish and food friendly.  

Drinking quite well right now.  Perhaps a bit earlier than prior vintages.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is great with sour cherries, cherries, slight black licorice and baking spice.  On the palate, this is deep and complex.  Great texture; a bit soft and a bit velvety.  Lots of sour cherry and black cherry fruit.  It unwinds in the glass showing layers of fruit and damp forest floor.  Great acidity.  Nice finish.  There is some upside potential on this as it will continue to mature for a few years.  

This is in a great place.  Rubyt/purple in color.  The nose is great with cherries, macerated cherries, a bit earthy, some sandalwood and slight cranberries.  Full bodied.  Sikly texture.  Layers of complexity unwind in the glass.  Cherries and dark cherries, wet forest floor and spice.  Great balance.  Long finish.  Seems like it is getting close to peak but not quite there with a long life left.  Great wine!

Ruby in color.  Nice solid cherries on the nose.  Medium bodied.  Tart cherries on the palate.  Light bodied.  Good acidity.  This really needs food to be at its best.